Admission Elements

The statements are limited to 4000 characters; we recommend you prepare in a word processing program, and then copy and paste it to the application. Statements must be written in your own words, i.e., not by AI or another person. Statements with vague AI generated text and ideas will be viewed very negatively and poorly graded. Instead, invest a significant amount of time writing each, developing it through several iterations. Use of generative AI tools in the next steps of your graduate program is considered plagiarism and constitutes severe academic misconduct. We expect you to develop strong critical thinking and writing skills while at UCD so please get used to not using these tools. Be honest, coherent and specific (ie. avoid broad statements and platitudes and give examples). More information on statements can be found on the Office of Graduate Studies website and below.

• Research Essay

• The Research Essay is a key part of your application as the Admission Committee uses it to gauge how well your interests fit within the program and your depth of understanding of the field. The essay should explain what research topics you are most interested in, and most importantly, why you are interested in those research topics. Your statement should be specific to GGHA and describe how your classwork and experiences converge to make you a good candidate for your field of study. You should articulate clear research interests and highlight your preparation and motivations, including your academic and/or community experiences. This statement should be brief but well thought-through. You will be asked what faculty members you would like to work with and whether you have been in contact with them. It is suggested that you proactively contact and identify multiple faculty members you would like to work with and include a clear and coherent justification for each.

• Statement of Purpose

• The Statement of Purpose of the online application is an important component of your application as we attempt to assess how well-prepared you are for the program. It should expand on your motivation for applying, your preparation for graduate school, and how your research interests fit the program. This is the place to expand on research ideas, questions, and hypotheses you may want to test. It also provides a context for your personal motivation. Make sure you address some deficiencies and how you might make up for missing prerequisites.

• Personal History and Diversity Statement

• The Personal History and Diversity statement is where you can provide more information related to your motivation for going to graduate school (and GGHA in particular) based upon your life experience(s), cultural background, socioeconomic status, gender, etc., and describe ways in which you would contribute to the social, intellectual or cultural diversity of our graduate community.  The purpose of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and potential graduate student and describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. The personal history section can also be used to:

  Fill in the gaps about inconsistencies in your application, describe why you will succeed in graduate school even if earlier academic experiences were a struggle

  Give examples of leadership, service, teaching and tutoring relevant to your academic goals.

  List any successes you achieved and what you learned from them

  Show how you have turned a negative into a positive and are able to persevere and excel academically in spite of any economic or social challenges you may have faced.

The graduate application fee is $135 for domestic applications, $155 for international applications. The application fee must be paid before the application will be considered complete. More information can be found on Graduate Studies' application information website. A fee must be paid for each application submitted. Information about fee waivers is on the Graduate Studies website.

Letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically through the online application. Do not have recommenders send letters in hard copy. There is a section of the application for you to enter the names and e-mail addresses of your three recommenders. When you submit these, the application system sends them an official request for their recommendations, along with information on how to submit them. You do not need to wait until you complete your application to submit the names of your recommenders.
Letters of recommendation may reflect a mix of backgrounds (academic or employment), but you should seek to include at least two from people who are qualified to evaluate the quality of your scholastic achievements and academic training, as well as your potential to carry out independent research. It is helpful to tell your references to address those characteristics that are important to your admission.

UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You will be instructed to upload scanned copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application. For more details visit Graduate Studies' Submitting Your Transcripts and Academic Records webpage.

All international students whose first language is not English, or who have not completed a degree (preferably a four-year degree) at an institution where English is the sole official language of instruction, must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS Duolingo English scores. For more information visit the English Requirement Test section and consult Graduate Studies' International Applicants webpage.

Fellowship applications are submitted electronically, along with your application for admission. Your admissions/fellowship application packet -- application, fee, transcripts, letters, and TOEFL (if required) -- must be completed by January 5th to be considered for a campus fellowship.
All applicants who are US citizens, permanent residents or immigrants, and who wish to be considered for fellowships, should file a FAFSA by the end of February.

Fellowship and their scope information can be found here